Window-controlling device



Nov. Z4, 1925- H. P. STEVENS wINnow coNTRoLLING Davxcs Filed May 20. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l III IIIIIVIIL /f/.S ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1925- H. P. STEVENS WINDOW CONTROLLING DEVICE 2 Sheejzs-Sheet 2 5.

Filed nay 2o. 1924 .555 INVENTOR.

lll/A l 7///////////// lid Patented Nov. Z4, 1925.

HARRY I. STEVENS, OF NEW YORK, N.' Y.

WINDOW-CONTROLLE'NG DEVICE.

Application filed Mey 20, 1924-,

To all 'ie/zout may concern:

Be it known that I, Hanny P. SrnvnNs, a citizen ci the United States, residing in the borough ot hilanhattan, city, county, and State ot' New York, have invented. certain new and usei'ul Improvements in liVindow- Controlling Devices, of which the following' is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

Briefly stated, my invention relates to improved apparatus for raising and lowering and adjusting the position of movable panels, such as sash or glass windows of various enclosures, particularly glass windows for automobile bodies and doors. My invention comprises a novel arrangement ot parts whereby a window or similar device may be 'aise'd and lowered or adjusted in position with greater ease than heretotore while at the same time the parts maybe inanulactured more economically and the construction over similar devices heretofore used, is simplified and made more eiiicient in action,

The particular object of my invention is to produce a device ot the kind above reilcrred to which shall have a positive and durable clutch mechanism ior maintaining the window in the desired position positively and 'without any tendency to slip or rattle A it'urther object of my invention is to provide such construction that the parts of thc window controlling device may be niade easily accessible, if necessary, for adjusti'nent without removing but a small portion ci the interior linishings of the enclosure or automobile body or door. A further object of the invention is to provide 'such construction that the parts may be made in a standard torni and yet be applicable to various forms or bodies on which the operating handle may be positioned in the most desirable location without changing the construction to adapt the device to the different requirements. In other words, l have deviseda substantially standard universal forni of window cont-rolling means which may be installed under varying conditions and requirements without special design and without changing the constructional details.

For a detailed description of one torni oli' my invention which I at present deempreferaole, reference may be had to the following speecation and te the accompanying Serial No. 714,624.

'drawings forming a part thereof in which Figure 1 is an interior elevation of the substantial parts o1 an automobile door having my improved window controlling device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a cutaway portion of the cover plate showing the operating parts in elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view ot the spindle and handle attached-thereto for operating the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is an inner end view of the bushing` or bearing in which the spring for the operating handle is mounted. Fig. 5 is a cutaway view showing the operating portions oit' Fig. 2 in elevation from the rear. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line VI-VT of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5 showing the means for attaching the sprocket chain to the window sash or glass. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the locking member for the sprocket wheel.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the frame in which the glass window 2 of an automobile door, body, or similar structure is adapted to slide vertically. The numeral 3 indicates a sprocket chain attached to the lower margin of the glass window or sash by means of a U-shaped metallic binding strip 4. which carries on its lower surface bracket plate 5` which is clamped between two horizontally extending plates 6 and 7 (Fig. 7) by means of two set screws 8 and 9. The last pivot pin 10 of the sprocket chain 3 extends into the clamping plate 7 thereby attaching the chain 3 operatively to the glass panel 2.

r1`he sprocket chain 3 comprises central connecting links 11 ojf the usual form and outer side plates or` links 12 which. are formed as indicated in the drawings so that the chain may be liexed in one direction only but will be incapable ot being flexed in the opposite direction. This is accomplished by Jorining 'abutting end surfaces 13 and 14 on thepend of each of the side plates 12, said surfaces being inclined in opposite directions on the two opposite sides of, the chain as indicated. This construction not only prevents the chain from being flexed in but one direction but also prevents the links of the chain from slipping or being displaced transversely so that lill) lili The sprocket chain B is adapted to pass over the operating sprocket wheel 15 andy to be wound upon the cylindrical surface ot the counter-balancing drum or casing 1G. In view of the tact that the upper end of the chain 3 does not pass below the sprocket wheel 15, the terminal links at the upper end thereof may be ol the usual `torm as indicated at 17.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the means 'for turning the sprocket wheel 15 will be described together with a description oi the means for allowing the operating handle to be located in various positions. The numeral 18 indicates the operating handle. This handle engages a spindle 19 which carries on its inner end a gear or pinion This spindle is adapted to turn in a bearing 21 having a circular tlange or plate 22 adapted to rest on the outer surface ol the cover plate 23 of the mechanism. The cover plate 23- is provided with a plurality ot holes or openings 2st substantially ot the shape inF dicated in Figs. 1 and 2. rThe inner end ot the bearing 2l is provided with a circular plate and two oppositely disposed flanges Q6 extending -trom diametrically opposite portions thereof tor approximatelyv onequarter of the circumference oil the plate on each side7 thereby forming a groove vadapted to engage the edges of the openings in the cover plate Q3 as indicated in Fig. 3, said edges of the cover plate being slightly smaller in diameter than the quadrants at right angles thereto as indicated in Fig. i2

'f his construction permits the circular plate f to be inserted in the openings 2e and then turned 9,00 so to hold said plate and bushing 21 in operating position. rlhe openings 2i are provided with extensions 27 forming between them a tongue 28 which is adapted to engage semi-circular notches 2S) in the edge of the circular plate 25. W' hen said plate is inserted in one of the openings 2l, said tongue 28 will be sprlmg inwardly until said plate is turned to its linal position whereupon said tongue will spring into one ot' the notches 29 thereby preventing tui ther rotation of saidplate 25 or tho bushing 2l. Small holes 30 are provided in the plato nd the cover plate 23 to permit the insertion ot' a small rod or similar instrument to torce the tongue 28 inwardly `to disengage it from the notches 2.9, if it is desired to remove the bushing 21 vfrom the openings.

rlhe pinion 2t) is adapted to engage a gear 3l mounted on the central bearing pin 32. The gear 3l engages a similar gear 33 moanted to rotate on the bearing 234-. The gear S3 has attached to its inner side by suitable connecting devices suehas pins or rivets 35, approximately rectangular' locking plate 3G. Gbviously7 it preferred, the loch ing plate 36 may be made integral with thc gear 33, but l prefer to make the same respec-.tively ot die-cut plates for ease ol manufacture. rlhe rectangular plate 8G is provided with two counter-sunk holes 3T and is provided with two recesses or open ings 3S (Fig. 5)), in which the respective ends oic a U-shaped spring` 89 are retained. This spring passes through the square head ol" a pin etO. the cylindrical portion olf which enters a hole in the sprocket wheel 15. Said spring 39 is slidable in the head of said pin e110. On the opposite side ot the sprocket wheel 15 is a. circular plate Ll1 having a series ot counter-sunk holes therein as indicated at 42, and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. rl'his plate is rigidly attached to the outer cover plate Lt3 carried by the innercover plate and supported therefrom by means ol the spacing pins Llt and 15. The gear 15 is also provided with a transverse hole a6 within which is located a` preferably steel ball et?. rlfhis ball forms a locking element which maintains the sprocket 1:1 rigidly in position when the handle of the window operating` device is not being .moved` for the reason that when the parts are in thi` position illustrated in Fig. 6, the ball il will be toi-ced, by the action of the spring iii) on the pin iitl and the gear to ride on the rib or dividing wall between the countcrsunk holes 3T. This action will torce the ball t7 into one ot the counter-sunk holes or recesses iin the lined plate lil and, theretorej any pull or thrust on thisl sprocket chain S will not move the sprocket wheel because the same is locked to the plate el.

ihcn it is desired to raise or lower the window.r the handle '8 will be turned to ward the right or lett as shown in Fig. l. Upon movement in either one ot these directions, the gears l 3l and 33 will be. rotated correspondingly, and the plate carried by the gear 83 will also be rotated. This inotion will cause one et the projections Ll-S or t8,- carried b v said plate EEG, to ong the pin l() and bring` one oil the countersunk rccesses 3i' into aligmnent with oneI of the countersunk recesses e112. rl`lie ball -l7 will therefore be capable ot moving upward l'roin the posit' ...1 illustrated in Fig. (i thereby dis` engaging the gear l5 trom the plate el-l. Further movement ot the gear 33 and plate 36 will, by reason oi the engagement hetween the head of the pin 4;() and one ot the projections 8 or 48, cause the sprocket wheel 15 to rotate as long as the handle 1S is further turnedJ thus raising or lowering the sprocket chain and consequently the `.viiiloi y The sprocket chain 3 engages a tixed plate e9 on its outer sine as indicated in Figs. 2, 5, and 6. This plate s a stop which preventsv the chain 'trom bending toward the i no right trom the position shown in Fig. 2, or toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 5, the construction of the links as above referred to preventing movements in the opposite directions troni the positions shown in these iigures respectively. It will be apparent that the chain `3 where it extends below the sprocket wheel l5 is capable ot receiving a thrust from said sprocket wheelwithout buckling or flexing by reason ot the shape olf the ends oit the side links and the contact with the guide plate if). llheretore, it the friction ot the window sash or glass in its trame is not overcome by the weight ot the sash, the sprocket wheel and chain will positively torce the window downward.

The end oit the sprocket chain 17 is attached to the drum casing lG by means of a small hook Zit), or other suitable device and this casing contains a counter-balancing spiral spring 51, the outer end ot which is suitably attached to the casing 50, and the inner end tothe transverse pin 52 which carries a square or irregular portion 58 which the inner end ot the spring engages by being bent around the same. "ihe pin is provided on its outer end with a slightly reduced portion il which is provided with two rectangular grooves at right angles to each other as .indi 'ated in Fig. 5, said grooves being adapted to receive a square rod or piu of, the ends ot which will eiigage recesses on opposite sides ot" the opening in the plate 43 through which the end oit the bearing pin passes. This arrangen'ient pro-vides ineans i'or holdingv said bearing pin 52 in a lixed position whichposition may be adjusted accordinnto the tension desired to be placed upon the spiral spring 5l. Obviously the tension oil: this spring should be such that the weichty ot the window glass and attached par issnbstantially counter-balanced when the window is halit raised or lowered to its inid-ljiositiou.

iiroin the above description it will be apparent that I have produced an exceedingly simple. durable, and positively operating window controlling` device. It should be noted that the openings 24rare so arranged that the handle and gear 2() .niiay be located in any one thereof, and in each. o'l said posi tions the pinion 2O will engage either the gear Pfl or the gear 3" It the sprocket UU. chain and its connection with the Window glass or sash is located substantially in the middle ol' the lower edge ot the latter, as usually the fase, the operating plates for the `mecl'ianism may be loc-ated relative thereto as shown in Fig. il, or it desired, the positions o't the parts may be reversed so that tl ie chain 3 will be toward the lett hand ends ot said plates instead ot the right hand as indicated in Fig. 2. This :tact therefore provides seven different positions in which the handle may be located depending upon the size of the door or window and upon whether the hinges are onthe right or lett hand side ot the door. Obviously it the handle be placed in the opening at the right ot Fig. 2, the handle will be substantially in the 1niddle of the door, and may be made exactly so, it desired, by adjusting the position ot the plates 23 and 43 to bring this about. Thus the whole mechanism may be standardized and yet will be practically oit universal adaptation to dillerent locations without changes in design or shape of the parts. Other advantages thereoif will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described this Ytorni oit my invention, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to the details of torni 'and specific arrangement oit parts set forth, for various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without de )artino from the spirit and scope ot my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

lWhat I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controlling mechanism tor a win dow or the like, a suitable housing therefor comprising a cover plate on one side thereo'l, raising and lowering mechanism located within Asaid housing, said cover plate having a plurality oit openings, a bearing member adapted to be retained in any one ot said openings, and an operating member which is adapted to be supported in said bearing nzember and engage said n'ieclianism.

Q. In a controlling mechanism tor a window or the like, a suitable housing theretor comprising a cover plate on one side thercot. raising and lowering mechanism located within said housing, said cover plate having a plurality ot openings therein located in substantially horizontal alignment, a bean ing men'iber adapted to be locked in any one oit said openings, and a manually operated handle or part which is adapted to be supported in said bearing member and engage said mechanism. v

3. In a controlling mechanism tor a window or the like, a suitable housing therefor comprising a cover plate on one side thereof, raising and lowering mechanism located within said housing, said cover plate having a plurality ol openings therein located in subst antiallv horizontal alignment, a .manually operated handle or part, a driving meinber carried thereby and `which is adapted to engage said mecl'ia ism when placed in any one oit said openings, a. bearing member for said parts, and a sliring for locking said bearing in operative position in said cover plate when placed in any one of said openings.

flf. In a controlling mechanism, for a window or the like, in combination, a supporting plate having an opening therein to receive an operating member, the margins ot said lill) plate about said opening carrying a flexible. part projecting therefrom, a bearing adapted to be inserted in said opening and having a portion adapted to engage said iiexible part to lock said bearing in position, and an operating member adapted to be carried by said bearing member.

5. l n a controlling mechanism, lor a window or the like, .in con'ibination, a supporting plate having an opening therein to receive an operating member, the margin of said opening beinglformed with a vflexible projection extending there'lrom, a bearing adapted to be inserted in said opening and having a recess adapted to engage said projection to lock said bearing in position, and an operating member farried by said bearmg.

6. ln a controlling mechanism, for a window or the like, in combination, a supporting plate having an opening therein to receive an operating member, the margin ot said opening being formed with a flexible projection extending therefrom and annular cut-away portions on opposite margins thereof, a bearing member having a portion adapted to engage said projection to loeli said bearing member in position and having oppositely disposed annular flanges aeapted to enter said annular cut-away port ions and to engage said plate between the same when said bearing member is rotated, and an operating member carried by said bearing member.

7. In av controlling mechanism for a window or the like, a suitable housing comprising a cover plate on one side thereof, raising and lowering niechanism located within said housing, said cover plate having a plurality of elongated openings the margins o't said openings being shaped at one end to lorm a spring member or tongue projecting inwardly, and a manually operated handle or part adapted to engage said mechanism when placed in any one oit said openings having an elongated member adapted to pass through said openings in one position, and to be retained therein when rotated to aninsane other position, said latter member having a groove on its edge adaptedto receive said tongue when in the latter position.

S. In a, controlling mechanism 'for a window or the like, a suitable housing comprising a cover plate on one side thereof, raising and lowering mechanism located within said housing, said cover plate lhaving a plurality ot circular openings therein, the edges ot each of said openings being cut away to form an inwardly projectingtongue, and a manually operated handle or part adapted to engage said mechanism when placed in any one of said openings, and a circular plate having two oppositely disposed flanges adapted to pass through said circular openings and to engage the edges thereof when rotated, said circular plate having a groove on its edge loc-ated intermediate said flanges adapted to receive said tongue when said lianges engage the edges of said openings.

9. ln a controlling mechanism 'lor a window or the like, a suitable housing comprising a cover plate on one side thereof, raising and lmvering mechanism located within said housing, said plate having a plurality ot' similar openings shaped with an inwardly projecting tongue, and a manually operated part adapted to engage said mechanism when placed in any one et said openings comprising a bearing having a llange adapted to rest on the outer surl'aee of said cover plate, a spindle in said bearing haw ing av pinion on its inner end 'for engaging said mechanism, and a handle on its outer end, and a plate member on the inner end ot said beariiig haring oppositely disposed flanges and a groove on its edge intermediate said `flanges adapted to receive said tongue, whereby said manually operated part may bey inserted in any one of said openings and locked therein when rotated with said tlanges engaging the edge of the opening and said tongue engaging said groove, and means 'lfor releasing said tongue from said groove.

HARRY P. STEVENS. 

